U.S. patent application number 15/542157 was filed with the patent office on 2018-09-20 for electrical connector.
This patent application is currently assigned to SMK CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is SMK CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Osamu Hayashi, Naoyuki Ono.
Application Number | 20180269620 15/542157 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58288624 |
Filed Date | 2018-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180269620 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hayashi; Osamu ; et
al. |
September 20, 2018 |
ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
Abstract
An electrical connector includes an insulating main housing
including a main body portion that has a holding hole open rearward
and a plate-shaped fitting portion that protrudes forward from the
main body portion and fits to a mating connector; a shield member
that covers the main housing; an insulating sub housing that is
arranged in the holding hole; and a plurality of conductive
terminals that include connection portions arranged on the fitting
portion and terminal portions protruding from the holding hole, and
are held by the sub housing. The sub housing includes a first sub
housing that is inserted into the holding hole from behind in a
state of holding a part of the plurality of terminals, and a second
sub housing that is inserted into the holding hole from behind in a
state of holding the terminals other than the part of the plurality
of terminals.
Inventors: |
Hayashi; Osamu; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Ono; Naoyuki; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SMK CORPORATION |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
SMK CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
58288624 |
Appl. No.: |
15/542157 |
Filed: |
July 7, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
July 7, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2016/070756 |
371 Date: |
July 7, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/506 20130101;
H01R 24/60 20130101; H01R 13/62 20130101; H01R 13/405 20130101;
H01R 13/514 20130101; H01R 13/6582 20130101; H01R 13/6595 20130101;
H01R 13/436 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/514 20060101
H01R013/514; H01R 24/60 20060101 H01R024/60; H01R 13/6582 20060101
H01R013/6582; H01R 13/62 20060101 H01R013/62; H01R 13/436 20060101
H01R013/436 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 18, 2015 |
JP |
2015-184684 |
Claims
1. An electrical connector comprising: an insulating main housing
including a main body portion that has a holding hole open rearward
and a plate-shaped fitting portion that protrudes forward from the
main body portion and fits to a mating connector; a shield member
that covers the main housing; an insulating sub housing that is
arranged in the holding hole; and a plurality of conductive
terminals that include connection portions arranged on the fitting
portion and terminal portions protruding from the holding hole, and
are held by the sub housing, wherein the sub housing includes a
first sub housing that is inserted into the holding hole from
behind in a state of holding a part of the plurality of terminals,
and a second sub housing that is inserted into the holding hole
from behind in a state of holding the terminals other than the part
of the plurality of terminals.
2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the first
sub housing has the same configuration as that of the second sub
housing.
3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the
terminal portions of the part of the terminals protrude from the
holding hole in a direction opposite from that in which the
terminal portions of the other terminals protrude from the holding
hole.
4. The electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein the part
of the terminals have the same configuration as that of the other
terminals.
5. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the
terminal portions of the part of the terminals protrude from the
holding hole in the same direction as that in which the terminal
portions of the other terminals protrude from the holding hole.
6. The electrical connector according to claim 1, further
comprising a plate-shaped shielding plate that is arranged on the
main housing, wherein: the connection portions of the part of the
terminals are arranged on one surface of the fitting portion; the
connection portions of the other terminals are arranged on a
surface opposite from the one surface of the fitting portion; and
the shielding plate is arranged between the connection portions of
the part of the terminals and the connection portions of the other
terminals.
7. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: the main
body portion includes a through hole that makes the holding hole
communicate vertically with outside; the shield member includes a
locking piece that is engaged with an inner wall of the through
hole; the first sub housing includes a first engagement protrusion
that is engaged with the inner wall of the through hole; and the
second sub housing includes a second engagement protrusion that is
engaged with the inner wall of the through hole.
8. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the
terminal portions of the part of the terminals protrude from the
holding hole in a direction opposite from that in which the
terminal portions of the other terminals protrude from the holding
hole.
9. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the
terminal portions of the part of the terminals protrude from the
holding hole in the same direction as that in which the terminal
portions of the other terminals protrude from the holding hole.
10. The electrical connector according to claim 2, further
comprising a plate-shaped shielding plate that is arranged on the
main housing, wherein: the connection portions of the part of the
terminals are arranged on one surface of the fitting portion; the
connection portions of the other terminals are arranged on a
surface opposite from the one surface of the fitting portion; and
the shielding plate is arranged between the connection portions of
the part of the terminals and the connection portions of the other
terminals.
11. The electrical connector according to claim 3, further
comprising a plate-shaped shielding plate that is arranged on the
main housing, wherein: the connection portions of the part of the
terminals are arranged on one surface of the fitting portion; the
connection portions of the other terminals are arranged on a
surface opposite from the one surface of the fitting portion; and
the shielding plate is arranged between the connection portions of
the part of the terminals and the connection portions of the other
terminals.
12. The electrical connector according to claim 4, further
comprising a plate-shaped shielding plate that is arranged on the
main housing, wherein: the connection portions of the part of the
terminals are arranged on one surface of the fitting portion; the
connection portions of the other terminals are arranged on a
surface opposite from the one surface of the fitting portion; and
the shielding plate is arranged between the connection portions of
the part of the terminals and the connection portions of the other
terminals.
13. The electrical connector according to claim 5, further
comprising a plate-shaped shielding plate that is arranged on the
main housing, wherein: the connection portions of the part of the
terminals are arranged on one surface of the fitting portion; the
connection portions of the other terminals are arranged on a
surface opposite from the one surface of the fitting portion; and
the shielding plate is arranged between the connection portions of
the part of the terminals and the connection portions of the other
terminals.
14. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein: the
main body portion includes a through hole that makes the holding
hole communicate vertically with outside; the shield member
includes a locking piece that is engaged with an inner wall of the
through hole; the first sub housing includes a first engagement
protrusion that is engaged with the inner wall of the through hole;
and the second sub housing includes a second engagement protrusion
that is engaged with the inner wall of the through hole.
15. The electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein: the
main body portion includes a through hole that makes the holding
hole communicate vertically with outside; the shield member
includes a locking piece that is engaged with an inner wall of the
through hole; the first sub housing includes a first engagement
protrusion that is engaged with the inner wall of the through hole;
and the second sub housing includes a second engagement protrusion
that is engaged with the inner wall of the through hole.
16. The electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein: the
main body portion includes a through hole that makes the holding
hole communicate vertically with outside; the shield member
includes a locking piece that is engaged with an inner wall of the
through hole; the first sub housing includes a first engagement
protrusion that is engaged with the inner wall of the through hole;
and the second sub housing includes a second engagement protrusion
that is engaged with the inner wall of the through hole.
17. The electrical connector according to claim 5, wherein: the
main body portion includes a through hole that makes the holding
hole communicate vertically with outside; the shield member
includes a locking piece that is engaged with an inner wall of the
through hole; the first sub housing includes a first engagement
protrusion that is engaged with the inner wall of the through hole;
and the second sub housing includes a second engagement protrusion
that is engaged with the inner wall of the through hole.
18. The electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein: the
main body portion includes a through hole that makes the holding
hole communicate vertically with outside; the shield member
includes a locking piece that is engaged with an inner wall of the
through hole; the first sub housing includes a first engagement
protrusion that is engaged with the inner wall of the through hole;
and the second sub housing includes a second engagement protrusion
that is engaged with the inner wall of the through hole.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a national stage application based on
PCT/JP2016/070756, filed on Jul. 7, 2016, which claims priority
from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-184684 filed on Sep. 18,
2015. The content of the priority applications are hereby
incorporated by reference in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to an electrical
connector.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Conventionally, there are various types of electrical
connectors to be mounted on electronic devices, depending on the
mounting positions and the like of the electrical connectors on the
electronic devices. Examples of such types include a vertical type
of which an electrical connector is vertically placed on a
substrate, and a horizontal type of which an electrical connector
is horizontally placed on a substrate (for example, Patent
Literature 1).
[0004] As the functionality of electronic devices increases and
becomes sophisticated in recent years, demand has been growing for
multipolar configuration of electrical connectors to be mounted on
the electronic devices. More and more electrical connectors are
being equipped with a plurality of rows of terminals
accordingly.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0005] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
No. 2015-005383
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0006] With conventional electrical connectors, however, different
housings, shield members, and terminals need to be prepared for
respective types of electrical connectors. This means a lack of
versatility in manufacturing a plurality of different types of
electrical connectors. The parts count may increase and the
manufacturing cost may also increase, and the need to manage the
parts type by type may complicate the manufacturing processes.
[0007] One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an
electrical connector in which some of the parts can be shared among
different types to enhance versatility in manufacturing different
types of electrical connectors, suppress an increase in parts count
to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost, and reduce the
number of parts to be managed to simplify the manufacturing
processes.
[0008] An electrical connector according to the present invention
includes: an insulating main housing including a main body portion
that has a holding hole open rearward and a plate-shaped fitting
portion that protrudes forward from the main body portion and fits
to a mating connector; a shield member that covers the main
housing; an insulating sub housing that is arranged in the holding
hole; and a plurality of conductive terminals that include
connection portions arranged on the fitting portion and terminal
portions protruding from the holding hole, and are held by the sub
housing, wherein the sub housing includes a first sub housing that
is inserted into the holding hole from behind in a state of holding
a part of the plurality of terminals, and a second sub housing that
is inserted into the holding hole from behind in a state of holding
the terminals other than the part of the plurality of
terminals.
[0009] In manufacturing a plurality of different types of
electrical connectors, some terminals held by the first sub housing
and the other terminals held by the second sub housing are changed
with respect to each type of electrical connector. The shield
member and the main housing are shared among the types.
[0010] According to the present invention, some of the parts are
shared among different types. In manufacturing a plurality of
different types of electrical connectors, an increase in parts
count can thus be suppressed to suppress an increase in
manufacturing cost, and the number of parts to be managed can be
reduced to simplify the manufacturing processes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vertical
electrical connector according to one or more embodiments of the
present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a front view of the vertical electrical connector
according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the vertical electrical connector
according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the
line A-A of FIG. 3.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a horizontal
electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present
invention, corresponding to the line A-A of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Hereinafter, an electrical connector according to an
embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail
with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the drawings, an
x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis constitute a three-axis orthogonal
coordinate system. A positive direction of the y-axis will be
described as a forward direction, a negative direction of the
y-axis a rearward direction, the x-axis direction a lateral
direction, a positive direction of the z-axis an upward direction,
and a negative direction of the z-axis a downward direction.
<Configuration of Vertical Electrical Connector>
[0017] A configuration of a vertical electrical connector 1
according to the embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In FIGS.
1 and 4, a flange member 60 is omitted.
[0018] The electrical connector 1 is of a vertical type which is
vertically placed on a not-shown substrate. The vertical electrical
connector 1 is mounted on a substrate orthogonal to the y-axis
direction. The electrical connector 1 includes a shield member 10,
a main housing 20, terminals 30, sub housings 40, and a shielding
plate 50.
[0019] The shield member 10 includes an insertion portion 11 which
is open forward to allow insertion of a not-shown mating connector,
an opening 12 which is open rearward, and locking pieces 13 which
are bent inward. The locking pieces 13 are provided in right and
left, two positions of an upper surface of the shield member 10 and
in right and left, two positions of a lower surface of the shield
member 10. The shield member 10 covers the main housing 20. The
locking pieces 13 are engaged with the inner walls of through holes
25 formed in a main body portion 21 of the main housing 20 (see
FIG. 4). The shield member 10 is provided with a flange member 60
which is fixed to the not-shown substrate or the like and grounded
(see FIGS. 2 and 3).
[0020] The main housing 20 is made of an insulating material and
accommodated in the shield member 10. The main housing 20 includes
the main body portion 21 and a plate-shaped fitting portion 22
which protrudes forward from the main body portion 21. The main
body portion 21 has a holding hole 23 which is open rearward, and
the through holes 25 which run through in a thickness direction and
make the holding hole 23 communicate with outside. The through
holes 25 are formed in right and left, two positions of an upper
surface of the main housing 20 and in right and left, two positions
of a lower surface of the main housing 20. The main housing 20 has
insertion grooves 24 which are formed in the fitting portion 22.
The insertion grooves 24 are extended rearward from the fitting
portion 22 and communicate with the holding hole 23 at the rear
ends.
[0021] The terminals 30 are made of a conductive material. A
plurality of terminals 30 are provided and held by the sub housings
40. Some of the plurality of terminals 30 are held by a sub housing
40a. The others of the plurality of terminals 30 are held by a sub
housing 40b.
[0022] The terminals 30 include connection portions 31 which are
arranged in the insertion grooves 24 formed in the fitting portion
22, and terminal portions 32 which protrude from the holding hole
23. The connection portions 31 of the terminals 30 held by the sub
housing 40a are laterally spaced and arranged on an upper surface,
or one surface, of the fitting portion 22. The connection portions
31 of the terminals 30 held by the sub housing 40b are laterally
spaced and arranged on a lower surface which is a surface opposite
from the upper surface of the fitting portion 22. The terminal
portions 32 protruding from the sub housing 40a protrude from the
sub housing 40a in an upward direction which is a direction
orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (front-to-rear direction)
of the terminals 30. The terminal portions 32 protruding from the
sub housing 40b protrude from the sub housing 40b in a downward
direction which is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal
direction of the terminals 30. The terminals 30 held by the sub
housing 40a and the terminals 30 held by the sub housing 40b have
the same configuration.
[0023] The sub housings 40 include the sub housing 40a which is a
first sub housing and is arranged above, and the sub housing 40b
which is a second sub housing and is arranged below. The sub
housing 40a and the sub housing 40b are made of an insulating
material and arranged in the holding hole 23. The sub housing 40a
and the sub housing 40b hold the terminals 30. The sub housing 40a
and the sub housing 40b have the same configuration. The sub
housing 40a and the sub housing 40b have engagement protrusions 41
(see FIG. 4) which are engaged with the inner walls of the through
holes 25 formed in the main body portion 21 of the main housing
20.
[0024] The shielding plate 50 is made of a conductive material, has
a plate-like shape, and is arranged on the main housing 20. The
shielding plate 50 is arranged between the sub housing 40a and the
sub housing 40b. The shielding plate 50 is arranged between the
connection portions 31 of the terminals 30 held by the sub housing
40a and the connection portions 31 of the terminals 30 held by the
sub housing 40b.
[0025] The electrical connector 1 having the foregoing
configuration includes two unit members, that is, a unit member
constituted by the sub housing 40a and the terminals 30 and a unit
member constituted by the sub housing 40b and the terminals 30. The
two unit members have the same configuration and are arranged in
the main housing 20 in mutually vertically reversed states.
<Configuration of Horizontal Electrical Connector>
[0026] A configuration of a horizontal electrical connector 2
according to the embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail below with reference to FIG. 5.
[0027] In FIG. 5, portions having the same configuration as in
FIGS. 1 to 4 are designated by the same reference numerals. A
description thereof will be omitted.
[0028] The electrical connector 2 is of a horizontal type which is
horizontally placed on a not-shown substrate. The horizontal
electrical connector 2 is mounted on a substrate orthogonal to the
z-axis direction. The electrical connector 2 includes the shield
member 10, the main housing 20, the sub housings 40, the shielding
plate 50, terminals 70, and terminals 80.
[0029] The terminals 70 are made of a conductive material and held
by the sub housing 40a. The terminals 70 include connection
portions 71 which are arranged in insertion grooves 24 formed in
the fitting portion 22, and terminal portions 72 which protrude
from the holding hole 23. The connection portions 71 are laterally
spaced and arranged on the upper surface of the fitting portion 22
of the main housing 20. The terminal portions 72 protrude from the
sub housing 40a rearward, i.e., in a direction parallel to the
longitudinal direction (front-to-rear direction) of the terminals
70.
[0030] The terminals 80 are made of a conductive material and held
by the sub housing 40b. The terminals 80 include connection
portions 81 which are arranged in insertion grooves 24 formed in
the fitting portion 22, and terminal portions 82 which protrude
from the holding hole 23. The connection portions 81 are laterally
spaced and arranged on the lower surface of the fitting portion 22.
The terminal portions 82 protrude from the sub housing 40b
rearward, i.e., in a direction parallel to the longitudinal
direction (front-to-rear direction) of the terminals 80.
[0031] The shielding plate 50 is arranged between the sub housing
40a and the sub housing 40b, and between the connection portions 71
of the terminals 70 and the connection portions 81 of the terminals
80.
<Method for Assembling Vertical Electrical Connector>
[0032] A method for assembling the vertical electrical connector 1
according to the embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail below.
[0033] Initially, a metal plate is pressed to form the shield
member 10. Here, the metal plate is stamped out and then bent to
form the locking pieces 13.
[0034] The sub housing 40a integrally holding the terminals 30 and
the sub housing 40b integrally holding the terminals 30 are each
formed by insert molding. The terminal portions 32 of the terminals
30 held by the sub housing 40a are formed by integrally holding the
terminals 30 by the sub housing 40a and then bending the terminals
30 in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction
thereof. The terminal portions 32 of the terminals 30 held by the
sub housing 40b are formed by integrally holding the terminals 30
by the sub housing 40b and then bending the terminals 30 in the
direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction thereof.
[0035] The main housing 20 integrally holding the shielding plate
50 is further formed by insert molding.
[0036] After the shield member 10, the sub housing 40a holding the
terminals 30, the sub housing 40b holding the terminals 30, and the
main housing 20 holding the shielding plate 50 described above are
prepared, the sub housing 40a holding the terminals 30 is inserted,
from behind, into either one of the upper and lower sections of the
holding hole 23 partitioned by the shielding plate 50 (see FIG. 1).
Since the holding hole 23 is vertically partitioned by the
shielding plate 50, the sub housing 40a can be easily positioned
and inserted into the holding hole 23. The sub housing 40a and the
sub housing 40b have the same configuration, and the terminals 30
held by the sub housing 40a and the terminals 30 held by the sub
housing 40b have the same configuration. The terminals 30 and the
sub housings 40 to be inserted into the holding hole 23 therefore
do not need to be sorted out. This can improve operability and
allows easy manufacturing.
[0037] The sub housing 40a is inserted into the holding hole 23 in
such a state that the engagement protrusions 41 are in press
contact with inner wall of the holding hole 23 of the main body
portion 21 and the shielding plate 50 is elastically deformed.
[0038] The connection portions 31 of the terminals 30 integrally
held by the sub housing 40a are pressed in the insertion grooves 24
and, in such a state, move forward along the insertion grooves
24.
[0039] As the engagement protrusions 41 of the sub housing 40a
reach the positions of the through holes 25 in the main body
portion, the press contact state between the engagement protrusions
41 and the inner wall of the holding hole 23 is released and the
shielding plate 50 returns to the original position by its own
elastic force. The engagement protrusions 41 are thereby engaged
with the inner walls of the through holes 25. The connection
portions 31 are pressed into and held by the insertion grooves 24.
As a result, the terminals 30 and the sub housing 40a are held by
the main housing 20.
[0040] Next, the sub housing 40b holding the terminals 30 is
inserted, from behind, into the other section of the holding hole
23 vertically partitioned by the shielding plate 50. Since the
holding hole 23 is vertically partitioned by the shielding plate
50, the sub housing 40b can be easily positioned and inserted into
the holding hole 23. If the sub housing 40a comes down before the
insertion of the sub housing 40b into the holding hole 23, the sub
housing 40a is pressed upward by the biasing force of the shielding
plate 50. This can prevent the sub housing 40a from interfering
with the insertion of the sub housing 40b into the holding hole 23.
Moreover, the sub housing 40a and the sub housing 40b have the same
configuration, and the terminals 30 held by the sub housing 40a and
the terminals 30 held by the sub housing 40b have the same
configuration. The terminals 30 and the sub housings 40 to be
inserted into the holding hole 23 therefore do not need to be
sorted out. This can improve the operability and allows easy
manufacturing.
[0041] The sub housing 40b is inserted into the holding hole 23
with the engagement protrusions 41 in press contact with the inner
wall of the holding hole 23 of the main body portion 21.
[0042] The connection portions 31 of the terminals 30 integrally
held by the sub housing 40b are pressed into the insertion grooves
24 and, in such a state, move forward along the insertion grooves
24.
[0043] As the engagement protrusions 41 of the sub housing 40b
reach the positions of the through holes 25 in the main body
portion, the press contact state between the engagement protrusions
41 and the inner wall of the holding hole 23 is released and the
engagement protrusions 41 are engaged with the inner walls of the
through holes 25. The connection portions 31 are pressed into and
held by the insertion grooves 24. As a result, the terminals 30 and
the sub housing 40b are held by the main housing 20.
[0044] Next, the main housing 20 holding the terminals 30, the sub
housing 40a, and the sub housing 40b is inserted into the shield
member 10 from the opening 12.
[0045] The main housing 20 is inserted into the shield member 10 in
such a state that the locking pieces 13 of the shield member 10 are
elastically deformed outward.
[0046] As the through holes 25 of the main body portion 21 reach
the positions of the locking pieces 13 of the shield member 10, the
locking pieces 13 are engaged with the inner walls of the through
holes 25 by the elastic restoring force of the locking pieces 13.
The main housing 20 is thus held by the shield member 10.
[0047] Finally, if needed, the flange member 60 is attached to the
shield member 10 to complete the assembly of the electrical
connector 1. While the sub housings 40 are held by the main housing
20 before the main housing 20 is held by the shield member 10, the
main housing 20 may be held by the shield member 10 before the sub
housings 40 are held by the main housing 20. While the sub housing
40a is inserted into the holding hole 23 before the sub housing 40b
is inserted into the holding hole 23, the sub housing 40b may be
inserted into the holding hole 23 before the sub housing 40a is
inserted into the holding hole 23.
<Method for Assembling Horizontal Electrical Connector>
[0048] A method for assembling the horizontal electrical connector
2 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail below.
[0049] Initially, a metal plate is pressed to form the shield
member 10. Here, the metal plate is stamped out and then bent to
form the locking pieces 13.
[0050] The sub housing 40a integrally holding the terminals 70 is
formed by insert molding. The terminal portions 72 of the terminals
70 are formed by integrally holding the terminals 70 by the sub
housing 40a and then bending the terminals 70 in a crank shape. The
sub housing 40b integrally holding the terminals 80 is formed by
insert molding. The terminal portions 82 of the terminals 80 are
formed by integrally holding the terminals 80 by the sub housing
40b and then bending the terminals 80 in a crank shape.
[0051] The main housing 20 integrally holding the shielding plate
50 is further formed by insert molding.
[0052] After the shield member 10, the sub housing 40a holding the
terminals 70, the sub housing 40b holding the terminals 80, and the
main housing 20 holding the shielding plate 50 described above are
prepared, the sub housing 40a holding the terminals 70 is inserted,
from behind, into either one of the sections of the holding hole 23
vertically partitioned by the shielding plate 50. Since the holding
hole 23 is vertically partitioned by the shielding plate 50, the
sub housing 40a can be easily positioned and inserted into the
holding hole 23.
[0053] The sub housing 40a is inserted into the holding hole 23 in
such a state that the engagement protrusions 41 are in press
contact with the inner wall of the holding hole 23 of the main body
portion 21 and the shielding plate 50 is elastically deformed.
[0054] The connection portions 71 of the terminals 70 integrally
held by the sub housing 40a are pressed into the insertion grooves
24 and, in such a state, move forward along the insertion grooves
24.
[0055] As the engagement protrusions 41 of the sub housing 40a
reach the positions of the through holes 25 in the main body
portion, the press contact state between the engagement protrusions
41 and the inner wall of the holding hole 23 is released and the
engagement protrusions 41 are engaged with the inner walls of the
through holes 25. The connection portions 71 are pressed into and
held by the insertion grooves 24. As a result, the terminals 70 and
the sub housing 40a are held by the main housing 20.
[0056] Next, the sub housing 40b holding the terminals 80 is
inserted, from behind, into the other section of the holding hole
23 vertically partitioned by the shielding plate 50. Since the
holding hole 23 is vertically partitioned by the shielding plate
50, the sub housing 40b can be easily positioned and inserted into
the holding hole 23.
[0057] The sub housing 40b is inserted into the holding hole 23
with the engagement protrusions 41 in press contact with the inner
wall of the holding hole 23 of the main body portion 21.
[0058] The connection portions 81 of the terminals 80 integrally
held by the sub housing 40b are pressed into the insertion grooves
24 and, in such a state, move forward along the insertion grooves
24.
[0059] As the engagement protrusions 41 of the sub housing 40b
reach the positions of the through holes 25 in the main body
portion, the press contact state between the engagement protrusions
41 and the inner wall of the holding hole 23 is released and the
engagement protrusions 41 are engaged with the inner walls of the
through holes 25. The connection portions 31 are pressed into and
held by the insertion grooves 24. As a result, the terminals 80 and
the sub housing 40b are held by the main housing 20.
[0060] The subsequent method of assembly is the same as with the
method for assembling the electrical connector 1. A description
thereof will thus be omitted.
[0061] As described above, according to the present embodiment,
there are provided the sub housing 40a which is inserted into the
holding hole 23 from behind in a state of holding some of the
terminals 30 and the sub housing 40b which is inserted into the
holding hole 23 from behind in a state of holding the terminals 30
other than some of the terminals 30. Consequently, some of the
parts are shared among different types. In manufacturing a
plurality of different types of electrical connectors, an increase
in parts count can thus be suppressed to suppress an increase in
manufacturing cost, and the number of parts to be managed can be
reduced to simplify the manufacturing processes.
[0062] According to the present embodiment, the sub housing 40a
holding some of the terminals 30 has the same configuration as that
of the sub housing 40b holding the other terminals 30.
Consequently, some of the parts are further shared among different
types. In manufacturing a plurality of different types of
electrical connectors, an increase in parts count can thus be
suppressed to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost, and the
number of parts to be managed can be reduced to simplify the
manufacturing processes.
[0063] According to the present embodiment, the terminal portions
32 of some of the terminals 30 are protruded from the holding hole
23 in a direction opposite from that in which the terminal portions
32 of the other terminals 30 are protruded from the holding hole
23. This enables the provision of the electrical connector 1 of a
vertical type.
[0064] According to the present embodiment, some of the terminals
30 have the same configuration as that of the other terminals 30.
When the sub housing 40a and the sub housing 40b are inserted into
the holding hole 23 of the main housing 20, the terminals 30
therefore do not need to be sorted out. This allows easy
assembly.
[0065] According to the present embodiment, the terminal portions
72 of the terminals 70 are protruded from the holding hole 23 in
the same direction as that in which the terminal portions 82 of the
terminals 80 are protruded from the holding hole 23. This enables
the provision of the electrical connector 2 of a horizontal
type.
[0066] According to the present embodiment, the plate-shaped
shielding plate 50 arranged on the main housing 20 is further
included. The connection portions 31 of some of the terminals 30
are arranged in the insertion grooves 24 formed in one surface of
the fitting portion 22. The connection portions 31 of the other
terminals 30 are arranged in the insertion grooves 24 formed in the
surface opposite from the one surface of the fitting portion 22.
The shielding plate 50 is arranged between the connection portions
31 of some of the terminals 30 and the connection portions 31 of
the other terminals 30. This can prevent signals flowing through
either some of the terminals 30 or the other terminals 30 from
producing noise on signals flowing through the others of either
some of the terminals 30 or the other terminals 30.
[0067] According to the present embodiment, the main body portion
21 includes the through holes 25 which make the holding hole 23
communicate vertically with outside. The shield member 10 includes
the locking pieces 13 which are engaged with the inner walls of the
through holes 25. The sub housings 40 include the engagement
protrusions 41 which are engaged with the inner walls of the
through holes 25. The portions for fixing the shield member 10 to
the main housing 20 and the portions for fixing the sub housings 40
to the main housing 20 can thus be shared to simplify the
configuration of the main housing 20 for easy manufacturing.
[0068] The present invention is not limited to the foregoing
embodiment in terms of the types, arrangement, numbers, and the
like of the members. Modifications may be made as appropriate
without departing from the gist of the invention. For example, the
components may be replaced with ones having equivalent operations
and effects as appropriate.
[0069] Specifically, in the foregoing embodiment, parts are shared
in manufacturing vertical and horizontal electrical connectors.
However, the parts may also be shared in manufacturing electrical
connectors of other types than vertical and horizontal ones, such
as a mid-mount type.
[0070] While the foregoing embodiment includes the shielding plate
50, the shielding plate 50 may be dispensed with.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0071] The present invention is suitable for an electrical
connector including a plate-shaped fitting portion to be fitted to
a mating connector.
[0072] While the invention has been described with respect to a
limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having the
benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments
can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention
as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should
be limited only by the attached claims.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0073] 1 electrical connector [0074] 2 electrical connector [0075]
10 shield member [0076] 11 insertion portion [0077] 12 opening
[0078] 13 locking piece [0079] 20 main housing [0080] 21 main body
portion [0081] 22 fitting portion [0082] 23 holding hole [0083] 24
insertion groove [0084] 25 through hole [0085] 30 terminal [0086]
31 connection portion [0087] 32 terminal portion [0088] 40 sub
housing [0089] 40a sub housing [0090] 40b sub housing [0091] 41
engagement protrusion [0092] 50 shielding plate [0093] 60 flange
member [0094] 70 terminal [0095] 71 connection portion [0096] 72
terminal portion [0097] 80 terminal [0098] 81 connection portion
[0099] 82 terminal portion
* * * * *